Alabama law-enforcement agencies' training Tuesday will help them be prepared if an "active-shooter" situation similar to that which happened on Dec. 2 in San Bernadino, Calif. were to ever happen here.

An officer, using a programmed simulator, hears loud shots coming from inside a building, sees people screaming and running away, others hurt on the ground and sees the suspects, armed and harming others. It's a moving and sensitive simulation, where the officer can fire his "weapon," and is graded on his performance.

Unlike 15 years ago when local responders created a perimeter around a crisis and waited for SWAT, all law enforcement now are being trained to enter the crisis and engage the shooter, said Col. John Richardson, director of the Alabama Department of Public Safety.

"Time is of the essence. Looking back, active-shooter instances usually last about 12 minutes or less," Richardson said. "We can't afford to wait to engage."

Officers across the state are able to train at the state-of-the-art, active-shooter simulator at the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office firing range.

Although state law enforcement was dealt a hefty cut of its budget, Richardson said the simulator is a low-cost and effective way to train without wasting hundreds of ammunition rounds.

"The citizens of this state deserve the most from their law enforcement," Richardson said. "... We can't put a price on this valuable training."

"We are ready," Richardson said.

Gov. Robert Bentley is requiring that all Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, local police and county sheriff's offices to train for mass-shooting situations by using the simulator.

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Right now, 67 percent, or about 10,630 state law-enforcement officers across Alabama, are trained in Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training or ALERRT.

"We're working every week and every month trying to get 100 percent. It's very important that we get them trained after what happened in California," said Hal Taylor, ALEA chief of staff. "We want to make the Alabama citizens aware that we are aware of the situation and that it can happen anywhere. I don't think it's unique to one situation or one part of the state. It can happen here."

Taylor also said, people should be prepared to take action should an active-shooter incident occur in their workplace, place of worship or schools.

Organizations are being encouraged to participate in "Run, Hide, Fight," a two-hour free training. Visit www.ALEA.gov to register.

So far, 18,000 citizens have taken the training.

"The first thing you want to do is run, get out of the building," Taylor said. "The next thing to do is to hide, get in a room where you can pull a copier, a bookcase, anything over a door, so an active shooter tries to open the door, they can't and may move on."

Only as a last resort should someone fight, Taylor said.

"If the first things don't work, the next thing is to fight. Fight for your life, do whatever it takes," Taylor added.

"See Something, Say Something" is also being encouraged. When someone sees anything suspicious, they are to report it to local authorities or to ALEA's hotline.

"We need the help of everyone out there to be the eyes and ears of law enforcement," Taylor said. "There's only a select number of us, we can't be everywhere at once."